The Arsenal of Democracy: Military Weapons of the United States of America

June 2, 2017Earle Jacobs

America, where freedom flies coast to coast and security dangles from the trigger of a gun. Guns have been part of the American culture since its birth. “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” as the Second Amendment reads. Today, with ISIS sowing chaos in the old continent, a well-armed force is necessary for any country’s security, and the United States of America has the best military in the world. Why? Simple. The Armed Forces of the United States boast the most advanced weapons in modern warfare and currently receives a funding of 581 billion dollars for further development. Whether land, sea, or air, space, cyber, or drone, the USA is the force supreme.

Here’s a brief exposé on the USA’s nickname Arsenal of Democracy. Before entering World War II, the United States supplied Britain and France with weapons and vehicles to endure the Nazi onslaught. Americans were still apprehensive about committing lives to a war on distant lands, so President Roosevelt decided to “lend-lease” American equipment to their allies as a way of contributing to the war effort while remaining neutral. Thus, the United States became the Arsenal of Democracy. Of course, Pearl Harbor happened, and the rest is history.

With that out of the way, let’s look at some of the weapons that the United States has in its arsenal. We’re not going to include nuclear weapons, as those violate the Geneva Conventions. These are purely conventional weapons.

F-22 Raptor

Most modern battles are fought quickly and are over in a flash, and aircraft are usually the first to the fray. Establishing air superiority means ground and sea forces can proceed with an operation without being harassed by hostile air attacks. The United States Air Force excels at that. Aside from having the most number of planes, the USAF enjoys a wide array of aircraft to deploy for any mission type. On an air superiority mission, the fastest fighter wins. The F-22 Raptor stealth fighter can go beyond Mach 1.8 and reach altitudes of sixty thousand feet. As such, the Raptor soars above all.

Arleigh Burke-Class Guided Missile Destroyer

As the great steel wall of America, the United States Navy protects American coasts while projecting American power to the rest of the world. Since air strikes and ballistic missiles can decide a war, anti-air defense is crucial. This is where an Arleigh Burke–class destroyer shines. A Burke does not come equipped with the biggest cannons; rather, it utilizes the Aegis Weapon System, a radar system that allows a Burke to detect missiles from long range and shoot them down in midair. With the Aegis, a Burke can also coordinate and guide other ships’ weapons systems, thereby increasing their accuracy and effectiveness. A Burke may not be the biggest ship, but it certainly is an important one.

M-1 Abrams

The main battle tank of the US Army, the M-1 Abrams brings to bear heavy armor on the modern battlefield. An Abrams’ armor is composed of depleted uranium up to three feet thick, and despite weighing sixty tons, the tank can run for more than forty miles per hour. Equipped with a 120 mm smooth bore gun, the M-1 Abrams can devastate any obstacle in its way. With both strength and speed, the M-1 Abrams serves well as the backbone of the US military juggernaut.